Dances have been a part of the LDS culture from the beginning. When the Saints were crossing the plains to Utah they would form their wagons into circles and dance around the campfire to a fiddle. Brigham Young said, “If you want to dance … do it, and exercise your bodies, and let your minds rest,” and “If you wish to dance, dance; and you are just as much prepared for a prayer meeting after dancing as ever you were, if you are Saints.” (Journal of Discourses, 6:149, 148.)
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to marry someone who is also a member of their faith. This is because only worthy members of the Church are able to enter temples and receive ordinances. One of these ordinances is a sealing. A sealing is a marriage ceremony but instead of being married for time and until death do you part, a sealing makes it possible for a marriage to continue after death. To have this blessing members must marry within the Church. The Church also strongly focuses on the importance of family and involvement in the Church. Many young single adults are not living with their families because they are away at college or are working in a job away from home. The singles activities are provided to help the single adults feel as if they still have a place within the Church numerous activities including dances are organized so that single members of the Church get the opportunity to meet other single members and create friendships that will form a support group for them within the Church.
The dances are often between two and three hours and provide a good atmosphere for people to meet and make friends. They are usually held in the cultural halls of meetinghouses but are sometimes held elsewhere. “Standards for dress and grooming are strictly enforced—for band members as well as for those who attend the dance. Music and lyrics must also meet Church standards.” On the subject of appearance and dress the Church has said, “Your dress and grooming send messages about you to others and influence the way you and others act. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the spirit and can exercise a good influence on those around you. Immodest clothing includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and other revealing attire. Young women should wear clothing that covers the shoulder and avoid clothing that is low-cut in the front or the back or revealing in any other manner. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. All should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. Always be neat and clean and avoid being sloppy or inappropriately casual in dress, grooming, and manners. Ask yourself, ‘Would I feel comfortable with my appearance if I were in the Lord’s presence?’”